♥my•weakness•is•that•i•care•too•much..♥

Chapter Fourteen

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    It’s about midnight now and I’m laying wide wake while everyone else is sleep. Bryan’s naked body is next to mine and he’s passed out from exhaustion. Sex can do that to him, and Syn is fast asleep in Bryan’s room, or I think he’s asleep anyways. Artemis is out at after-parties with Max’s son, Dominick, still. Let me put a recap on the evening after I left Shadows place. I came home, finding Bryan had gone to his practice, Syn had settled in, knowing he was going to be here for a long while, I made us some dinner after Artemis had gotten home, and then we all went to the Escape The Fate concert. Bryan was sexy up on the stage with his black fishnet shirt on and torn jeans and I was lusting for him all evening after that. After the concert Artemis and her new boyfriend went out to the after-parties being held after the concerts and I haven’t seen her since she said bye. Syn, Bryan and I had gone home, Syn called it a night when we got back and went to bed with a sorrowful face, but Bryan and I called it a night about ten after a very heated kissing session and both of us had been aroused by the other, and that’s how we ended up here in bed, stripped of clothing, but now I laid wide awake, sleep far off. I got out of bed and pulled on a pair of boxers and went out to the lounge, “Hey Mr. Sullivan.” said a slurred voice in the darkness.

    Automatically I replied, “It’s Rev.” I flipped on a switch and saw Artemis’s boyfriend sprawled out on my couch, “Hey Dominic. Where’s my daughter?” I asked curiously.

    “She went to bed the minute we walked through your front door.” he answered and closed his eyes, “Is it cool if I stay here tonight?”

    “Whatever. I don’t care. Drunk, I’m presuming.” I responded, sitting in a lazy boy and relaxed.

    I heard him laugh into the couch cushions, “Yeah something like that.” he replied, but there was something else in his profile that told me a different story.

    “Where you kick out of your home?” I asked, sitting up a little straighter.

    There was a shuffling in the hallway, “Rev?” came Syn’s sleep foggy voice and he shuffled into the living room.

    “Hey Syn. I thought you were asleep.” I said softly.

    He grinned foolishly, “Yeah I was until you and Bryan thought it’d be a good idea to pound on the wall and make sounds.” he laughed ruthlessly and I blushed.

    “Sorry about that, but I was really horny and yeah, things went down.” I muttered sheepishly and looked at my hands.

    He giggled, “More like went up.” he said, sitting next to me.

    “Oh shut up!” I said, hitting him on the shoulder lightly.

    “Oh… you’re that Rev and Syn.” Dominick’s voice cut in softly.

    We looked over at him curiously, “What do you mean?” Syn asked him.

    “You’re gay, are you not?” Dominick asked right back.

    He bit his lip and I answered, “No, he’s not. Why do you ask that?”

    “Like eight or nine years ago, there was a little clipping in the local England newspaper about you two being gay and how some paparazzi had seen you and that Zacky guy kissing in a bar, and then you and some guy named Mikey making out in a hotel while on your tour over there.” he explained slowly, opening his eyes to look at us intensely, “One of you is lying or the reporters back home are fucking stupid.”

    “You’re from England?” I asked shocked.

    “Uh… yeah. My real dad’s name is Edsel Dope, but something happened that cause him some problems and he couldn’t raise me, so I was put up for adoption and that’s how I ended up with Max.” he sighed, burying his head in the cushion and I looked at my friend.

    “One of Tripp’s old band mates.” I said softly, more to myself then to anyone in particular.

    “How do you know that name?” he asked me, staring me dead in the eyes.

    “Gods that isn’t a short bedtime story.” I groaned, “Do you really want to know how I knew that bastard of a man?” he nodded and I groaned again, “Fuck… everyone knows I’m gay by now, if not they’re fucking stupid.” So I began my story, starting with the strip club and working up to seven years ago, without mentioning the murder.

    “So Artemis is adopted too?” he asked when I was finished.

    I nodded, “Yeah and she has his personality more then anything.” I replied and then I heard another pair of shuffling feet.

    “Baby? Why are you still up and left my side?” Bryan’s voice asked, and I could tell something had scared him awake because his eyes held no sleep and were alert.

    There was an evil kind of laugh inside my head and knew who it was. Tripp woke him up. I thought quickly and got up to gather him in my arms, “I’m sorry, baby. I’ll come back to bed now.” I whispered to him and kissed his forehead, “I’ll see you guys in the morning. Night.”

    “Night Rev.” said Syn’s voice.

    “Night, Mr. Sullivan.” Dominick’s voice bid me.

    I walked back to my bedroom with Bryan and we laid in bed together, my arms around him tightly, “What woke you?” I asked in his ear quietly.

    A shudder ripped though his body and he continued to tremble and I held him closer, “I don’t know. I felt a cold breeze and saw a shimmering image in my dreams, but I don’t know who it was and that’s when it yelled and I woke, finding you weren’t in bed next to me.” he whimpered, burying his head into my chest and I stroked his hair soothingly.

    “Shh… it’s okay, baby. It was just a dream. Nothing going to hurt you as long as I’m around to protect you.” I promised, kissing his temple.

    “But what if you’re not there when I’m in trouble?” he asked worried.

    “I’ll always be there.” I stated sternly, “Go to sleep, baby. I won’t leave this time.”

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    “I don’t fucking care! I do not love Syn anymore!” Zacky yelled in my face at about two in the afternoon.

    We’re in an argument again, same thing as last night apparently, “Fine. You and Shadows might as well let the band fall apart, because neither of us are coming back!” I screamed back, clutching my fists at my sides.

    “You can’t fucking change my mind with that bullshit. I’m in love with Shadows now, not him.” Zacky argued back.

    “Whatever. It’s truth. Syn and I are not coming back to the band that’s operated by two little bitches.” I snarled.

    Artemis came in and hit Zacky across the face, “You are a mother fucking asshole, Zacky. Dad, Uncle Syn needs you. He’s cutting in the bathroom.” she said coldly, glaring at Zacky when she told me what Syn was doing.

    The color bleed from his pale face when she said this and headed in the direction of our bathroom, but I stopped him with my hand, “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked him.

    “Syn needs me.” he said weakly, trying to get by me.

    “Fuck that. You don’t love him, so why should you care if he’s cutting?” I asked harshly, “Get out of my house before you make things worse for the poor man. Let him leave you behind in the past with some pride left within his body.”

    “But-” he started, but stopped, “Maybe you’re right… No, no, you’re not. He needs me, Rev. I’ve got to be there for him.”

    “He needed you yesterday, three days ago, two weeks ago, but you were off fucking with Shads.” I growled, “All he needs is me, Johnny, and Artemis. People who still care for his well being.” I stated, shoving him backwards.

    He stumbled and I walked off towards the bathroom, stopping outside the door, and listened, “Why? What does he have that attracts my Zacky?” came Syn’s voice on the other side.

    I knocked, “Syn, open the door and please stop cutting yourself.” I pleaded, placing my hand flat against the wood of the door, “Nothing’s special about Shads. Zacky’s just fucked up in the head.”

    “There’s got to be something, Rev.” he choked out past some painfully tears I could tell.

    “Come on, Synny. Open the door and we’ll talk.” I said softly, resting my head again the door.

    “I don’t want to talk. I want to die.” he answered and then there was a pained hiss out of him.

    “Syn, please stop!” I cried, pounding on the door, “There are so many people that love you and need you around!”

    “Uncle Syn, please come out of the bathroom. I need you around.” Artemis yelled at the door.

    There was a long silence and I looked to Artemis, “Shit…” I muttered.

Chapter Thirteen

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    “Bryan…” I whispered in his ear early the next morning.

    “Go away.” he answered, rolling away from me.

    I expected that, “I made you breakfast.” I said softly.

    “Not hungry. Leave me alone!” he answered again.

    I whistled between my teeth, making a hissing sound, “This is stupid. I know you’re hungry cause I just woke you up. I’m sorry for last night, okay? I still love you, baby.” I said, folding my arms over my chest.

    I heard the bedroom door open and smiled as my fifteen year old pounced on the bed and right on top of Bryan too, “Bryan, get up!” she yelled at him and he groaned, “Noon is for lazy bones to sleep in until, not you! Morning, dad.”

    “Morning, baby girl. Have you had your breakfast?” I asked her and she nodded, “Good, now go find someone else to bug.”

    “Can I go wake up Uncle Frankie this morning?” she asked innocently.

    “How are you going to get to Uncle Frankie’s exactly?” I asked her again.

    “I’ll walk.” she answered, hopping up and down on the bed.

    I giggled at the protest Bryan was muttering under the blankets, “Okay, but be careful.” I stated and she ran out of the room, “Now time to get you up, baby.”

    I placed a freezing hand under the blankets and right on Bryan’s bare side, “Son of a bitch! Get your damn cold hand off me!” he yelled, jumping out of bed.

    “Morning, gorgeous.” I smiled at a messy haired, eyeliner smeared Bryan.

    “Fucker.” he grumbled and got back in under the warm blankets.

    I laughed, “So pissy this morning. Don’t you need to get to your band practice, since you guys have a concert tonight?” I asked lightly.

    “I know what our songs are thank you very much! Now go away and let me go back to sleep!” he screamed at me.

    I shrugged, “Whatever. You’re breakfast is on the desk when you want it.” I said in a rather cold tone of voice and walked out of the room, heading towards the bathroom for a quick shower, so I could get to my own practice at Shads place.

    I took a ten-minute shower, got out, dried myself, and wrapped the towel around my waist. I grabbed a blow dryer and dried my hair out, combed it, and then quickly donned my clothing. I looked in the mirror to apply my eyeliner when I saw Bryan standing in the doorway, “Are you mad at me?” he asked when he noticed I had saw him.

    I started to apply my make-up, “No, I’m not mad.” I replied and then my mind drifted off to my lost lover, “No, I can’t be at the one I love.”

    He nodded, “I’m sorry, Rev.” he said and then left.

    “Very good, angel.” came a familiar voice.

    I turned to see Mikey’s shimmering figure sitting on the toilet seat, “Is this what you wanted, Mikey?” I asked him softly.

    He nodded, “Yes Revvy, this is what I wanted for you.”  he answered quietly, “He’s quite the hottie, baby.”

    “Yeah, thank your brother for that one.” I replied sarcastically, “He’s the one that found Bryan in the first place.”

    “I just might have to thank him for that.” Mikey responded with a ghostly smile, “Do tell Artemis mom said hi, that I love her very much, and that I couldn’t be more happier then how she’s been raised by you.”

    “Mikey…” I trailed off because of the sorrow in my throat.

    “Shh… I love you, Rev. I will always love you, but love Bryan and Artemis as much as you had loved me through my living years.” he stated then disappeared.

    “Mikey… please…” I choked out passed the sorrow, but it was useless.

    I turned and saw Bryan in the doorway again, “Baby, are you okay?” he asked me gently.

    I rubbed at my eyes roughly, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I whispered.

    “Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked concerned about me.

    I shook my head, “Nothing. I’ve got to hurry so I can get to practice.” I said quickly, doing my make-up and then headed to my room for my fingerless, spider webbed gloves. I left my room, kissed Bryan on the cheek and said, “I’ll see you later. I love you.”

    He smiled lightly, “I love you too.”

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    Six songs and a lot of swear words later, we were allowed a rest by Synyster and I think Matt was thankful for that, since Synyster was being ruthless today. Something was bugging him and he wasn’t dealing with it so well, so he was taking it out on us, especially Zacky and Shadows. I tugged at his shirt and nodded for him to follow when he looked at me. I led him to the back of the house and asked, “What’s going on?”

    “What?” he asked kind of confused and then shrugged, “Nothing.”

    “Bullshit, Syn. We all can see something’s is fucking with you and you’re not dealing with it, so what the hell is going on?” I asked again, leaning against a hallway wall.

    Syn was looking for a way to escape the situation, that I saw in his eyes, but he also knew it was pointless to try and escape, “Zacky’s been cheating on me lately.”

    “Let me guess, with Shads right?” I said sarcastically, “It’s your game. You two invented it back when Mikey was alive, so it’s your fault it’s gotten out of hand.”

    He flinched slightly, “That’s it, back when we were playing with you and Mikey that is all it was. It was just a game, but now it’s different. It’s not our game here, this is for real.” he said, tears brimming at his black outlined, brown eyes, “Back then, you know, we’d go off and fuck each other after playing with you two, but now it’s not the same and I’ve watched as Zacky began to slip from my grasp.”

    “Did your…?” I hesitated, but he knew what I was referring too.

    “No, the rape has nothing to do with it. He never mentioned anything about it after I was healed and taken home. You’re the first to say anything since that horrible day.” he whispered, a shiver ripping through his body.

    “Umm… Rev. I think you need to go set some things straight with Zacky and I don’t think Syn should go back to the garage for a while.” came Johnny’s voice and I turned to looked at his sickened expression.

    I looked back to Syn and saw the anger boiling in his eyes, but he nodded, “You go handle it before I kill one of them.” he muttered darkly.

    I nodded and looked to Johnny, “Stay here with him.” I ordered and walked off back in the direction of Shads’s garage. I knocked once and then entered, containing my own anger at Zacky and Shadows. Zacky was on his knees in front of Shadows, giving him a blowjob. Shadows head was tossed back in pure bliss and both seemed to be oblivious that I was standing there, watching this little scene play out with extreme disgust. I decided to sit behind my drum set so I didn’t have to watch anymore and my back was to them and then muttered loud enough for them to hear, “You’re a manwhore, Zackary Baker.” The groans of pleasure and the soft sucking sounds came to an instant stop when the words fell from my mouth. I heard a zipper and then turned on my chair and looked them both dead in the eyes, “You’re a disgrace for a friend and lover.” I hissed and I saw him squirm uncomfortably.

    “It’s not-” Zacky began, but I cut him short.

    “It’s not what it looks like? Bullshit! You’re an asshole and a twisted motherfucker!” I yelled at him and my words dripped with acid, “What is Synyster to you now?”

    He looked away from me, “Nothing.” he answered quietly, shame evident in his quiet voice.

    “Why? Because Shads can fuck harder and give better blowjobs?” I asked accusingly, “Syn and you have been together for a great many years and all of a sudden it doesn’t fucking matter to you?”

    “What about Mikey?” he asked right back, a rage building up inside of him and I could see it coming forward like a busted dam.

    “What about him? He’s dead, Zackary! He’s never coming back and it took me seven years to realize that. I’ve gotten my life together, but you’re ruining yours for a better sex partner when Syn loves you no matter what hell you two have been through over the years!” I growled, feeling a sudden relief after what I had said.

    “So? It’s over, James.” he hissed back and that’s when I decided time to try something new.

    “Fuck this. I’m not coming back until you’ve figured out your own mistake in fucking up your relationship, so I suggest you get your ‘shitty’ drummer back to fill for me again.” I said, getting up and headed to the door and back into the house, “Hey Syn!” I yelled for him.

    “Yeah?” he answered, walking into the lounge area.

    “Do you need a place to stay?” I asked lightly.

    He nodded, picking at his black ‘Syn’ shirt, “Yeah I guess I do, since Zacky doesn’t want me anymore.” he whispered softly.

    “Well come on. Bryan’s got a concert tonight and I want to be there for it.” I said quickly and we left the house in the same manner.

Chapter Twelve

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    “Ouch, that hurt.” Bryan whispered softly, walking towards Max with steady steps, “I admit what I did was a bitchy thing to do, but I lost interest in you after you got abusive and I couldn’t stay with you, plus I knew I had to move in with him and I also knew Ronnie was hooking me up with a good guy, one that would treat me the way I deserve to be treated, not like some ho you always treated me like.” Bryan said, rage simmering in his dark eyes.

    “I didn’t not treat you like a ho. I treated you better then those drug dealer you were always hooking up with.” Max argued as Artemis’s eyes shifted from speaker to speaker.

    “Not by much.” Bryan sighed, rubbing his hair roughly.

    “What’s that suppose to mean?” Max snarled.

    Bryan shrugged indifferently, “It means what I said. You only treated me a little better then they had.” he answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

    The guy glared, “What about Dominick?” he asked slyly.

    Again Bryan shrugged, “Not my problem, he’s your seventeen year old son. I’ve got a fifteen year old daughter to take care of,” he snapped, “and you’ve got her at knife point.”

    He smiled softly that made me shudder then something hit me, “Ronnie said he had been with a guy named Omar.” I whispered gently, placing a hand on Bryan’s shoulder.

    “Yeah… umm… we had an affair going on while he was with Omar.” Bryan muttered then sighed, “Dominick is the boy Max had adopted years ago, when the boy was four.”

    “Don’t forget, lovely, he’s yours too. You’re his mother in ways.” Max said, taking a step back and forcing Artemis to take one back as well.

    Bryan placed a loving hand on Artemis’s shoulder and asked Max, “Where’s Dominick now?”

    Max shrugged, “Probably at a party with his friends. I let him do anything he damn well pleases to do.” he stated, his dark blue eyes shifting around the room, glancing from me to Bryan and back.

    “I didn’t go to the party with Jimmy and Daemon, instead I asked Omar where I could find you.” a voice answered the statement.

    All eyes turned towards a well-built guy. He had black, hot pink tipped hair, hazel eyes, gauged ears, a hoop pierced the left side of his nose, then a hoop pierced the right corner of his lower lip, and two small barbells pierced his right eyebrow as well, “Dominick, what are you doing here?” yelped Max surprised.

    “Seeing what hell you’re causing this family.” Dominick answered firmly, folding his arms over his chest, “Let her go, dad. What if I was in her position? What would you do?”

    “I would be doing the same thing Bryan and Reverend are doing.” Max grumbled to his son, letting Artemis go.

    I opened my arms and she ran into them. I hugged her tightly then pulled away, “Let me see your neck.” I ordered. She lifted her face upwards and I scanned her neck for any cuts, “You’re lucky, Mr. Green, at you hadn’t broke the skin on her pretty neck.” Artemis wiggled out of my grasp, “Baby girl, what are you doing?”

    “Hello Dominick.” Bryan whispered softly and I heard the hurt in his voice.

    “Hi Bryan.” he replied, his eyes watching Artemis as she approached him.

    She leaned in and whispered something in his ear, to which he shrugged. He paused then whispered something back in her ear. She nodded and walked back over to me and pulled my arms back over her shoulders, “What was that about?” I asked softly.

    She shrugged, “Just a little chat between us.” she said, interlocking our fingers, “I’ll tell you later if I want too.”

    “Come on, dad. Let’s go home. You’re being rude and interrupting their dinner time.” Dominick said, walking towards our front door, but Max stayed in place.

    “Bryan…” he started to say.

    Bryan put his hand up to stop him, “Just go. Leave our home.” he responded, pointing towards the door.

    He turned and left with his son. I sighed against Artemis hair, “Okay, lets eat. Dinner is getting cold behind us.” I said, getting plates down and served lasagna, garlic bread, and sweet corn.

    “It looks wonderful, baby.” Bryan said, taking a plate from me and kissed me gently on the cheek, “I’m sorry that had to happen.”

    I nodded and kissed him, “I know. Let’s just have a nice family dinner for tonight, okay?” I replied with a small smile. He nodded and we sat at the dining table with Artemis and ate our dinner in silence.

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    “What would you say if I told I’m going out with Dominick?” Artemis asked me as we sat on the couch in the middle of the night.

    Bryan had called in early for the night and was sleeping in my bed, “I guess I would say that you can as long as you’re cautious around his father after tonight.” I answered, putting my arm over her shoulders as she leaned against me, “I’m guessing that’s what you talked to him about.”

    She nodded, “Yeah, but we agreed that his father wouldn’t learn about us until we wanted him too.” she explained lightly, sitting up straight, “Well I’m going to bed. Night, daddy.”

    I kissed her on the forehead, “Night, baby girl.” I said, getting up with her and headed to my room.

    “Took you long enough to come to bed.” whispered Bryan’s voice as I entered my room.

    I smiled, “I thought you were sleeping already. Artemis and I were talking, it seems you’re going to be seeing more of that kid, Dominick. Artemis is going out with him now.” I said, stripping down to my boxers, crawled into bed behind him, and wrapped my arms around him.

    “Oh yeah?” Bryan asked as I kissed his neck.

    “Yeah.” I answered, my kisses turning into little bites.

    “Rev…” he groaned gently, “Please?”

    I smiled softly and backed off with my actions, “No, you’re sexless for a while, love.” I giggled.

    “You tease.” he grumbled, pulling the blankets over his head.

    I slipped my hand over his hip and jerked him off a little then pulled my hand away when I heard his moans of pleasure. I leaned in and whispered in his ear, “That’s what makes me a tease when I don’t get you off all the way.”

    I rolled over away from him and he pulled the blankets away from his body, “That’s cold to do to me, baby.” he growled and got out of bed, leaving the room.

    I giggled, “I know it was cold, but I don’t always need sex.” I said to myself as he went to, I could only guess, the bathroom to fix himself.

    He came back in a few minutes later, “Night.” he sighs and I detect a slight pant in his voice.

    “Night.” I said, pulling the blankets back from my body and get out of bed.

    “Where are you going?” he questioned as I headed for the door.

    My hand closed around the doorknob, “To the lounge.” I replied and then left, going out to the lounge and sit on the couch. As I saw it one of us was pissed off, the other was in a good mood, and that made for bad bed partners, “I’ll just sleep out here for the night.” I said to myself, settling out on the comfy couch and instantly fell to sleep.

Chapter Eleven

    “Dad, are you okay?” asked Artemis’s voice as I made lasagna.

    I looked at her and her green eyes held worry, “Hmm? Oh yeah… I’m fine, baby girl. Where’s Bryan” I nodded to her question and laid lasagna noodles in a pan from a colander.

    She shrugged her small shoulders, “Either in the pool or lounging in the hot tub. I don’t know, but he’s around the house somewhere.” she answered softly, leaving the kitchen.

    I finished putting the lasagna together and walked out into the backyard, “Bryan?” I asked softly in the hushed night air.

    I heard a soft sound and then, “I’m in the hot tub.” he responded and I walked over to the hot tub that was in a corner of the back pouch and saw him illuminated by the lights under the water.

    I saw the small smile on his lips as he tilted his head back against the side, “Hey baby, relaxing again, are you?” I teased, running a hand through his blond hair.

    “Yeah. Do you want to join me?” he asked.

    I shook my head, “No, I’ve got dinner in the oven.” I muttered, leaning down and kissed him briefly on the lips, “You know I love you, right?”

    He grinned, “Yeah, I know and I love you so much more.” he answered, bring his wet hands up and ruffled my hair.

    I snapped my head up and pouted, “You ruined my hair!”

    I laughed and so did he, “It would have gotten ruined one way or another.” he observed with that same grin in place.

    I shrugged, “Yeah maybe.” I giggled quietly, kissing him fully on the mouth with passion behind it.

    “Maybe? You’ve been after me for two hours now.” he laughed, sinking further into the warm water.

    “I have not! It was half an hour.” I defended myself in this battle.

    “Whatever you say, darling.” he answered, smiling at me.

    “Keep doing that and you’ll be in trouble, sweetheart.” I said, turning back to the house so I could finish making the rest of dinner.

    I heard him giggle, “Going to beat me?” he teased and I heard the sound of water dripping from his shorts as he stood in the hot tub.

    I turned back around as he was getting out of it, “No. Much worse then that, gorgeous.” I replied, watching as he approached me wet and I took a couple steps back.

    He stopped a foot away from me, “Oh? What could be much worse then a beating from you?” he asked lightly.

    I turned back around, “Being sexless until I felt like fucking you.” I replied then yelped when Bryan pressed his wet body against my dry clothes and wrapped his arms around my chest, “Bryan, you got me all wet!” I complained.

    “You wouldn’t leave me sexless for very long.” he whispered to me and then let me go.

    I faced him again, “After this, yes I can.” I threatened him and went into the house.

    I heard a girlish giggle, “Have fun with Bryan?” Artemis’s voice teased me as I cut slices of French bread then buttered and seasoned them with garlic salt, and put them on a pan.

    “No. I’m soaked because of him.” I grumbled irritably.

    “He does have a point, daddy dearest.” she was saying as she leaned against the opened sliding door to the backyard, “You can’t leave him sexless for very long. He’ll get you to cave in quicker then you think.”

    “Artemis!” I yelled, blushing as she talked bout Bryan and my personal life so causally as if it were an everyday subject.

    “What? It’s true!” she started at my yell.

    “Go do something and stop talking about my personal life out loud!” I ordered her out of the kitchen.

    She giggled, “Daddy’s getting his boxers in a twist over his lover!” she kind of sang as she skipped out of the kitchen.

    I shook my head at this and finished putting dinner together then started as hands slid onto my hips from behind, “That was an interesting conversation to overhear between you and your daughter.” Bryan’s voice whispered.

    I turned to see him dry and a towel around his waist. His fingers went to the button on my jeans and I stopped his hands, “I told you, you were sexless until I feel like I need it and I don’t right now.” I stated firmly, turning back to dinner.

    “Aw baby, you’re no fun!” he pouted, his lower lip quivering softly, “I don’t even have any clothing on under my towel.”

    I raised my eyebrows, “Oh really?” I asked, “Where’s your shorts?”

    He shrugged, “Outside waiting to get dried by the sun tomorrow.” he answered in a smartass tone.

    “Okay that just got you put in the corner. Go stand in that corner until I say you can move from it.” I ordered, pointing to a corner opposite of me.

    He went and stood in the corner like a little kid, and I giggled under my breath, loving how he looked sad. I snuck up on him, grinding against him and he put his hands against the kitchen wall for balance. I bit at his neck, “I love you, you dirty whore.” I whispered softly.

    “I’m only your whore.” he commented, turning around to put his arms around my neck and I kissed him deeply, “I love you anyways, you meanie.”

    I smiled lightly, “You’ll always love your Rev. no matter what.” I laughed, going to the oven and took my perfect lasagna out of the oven as the timer went off, “Artemis! Dinner’s done, baby girl!” I yelled. Five minutes passed by and I looked at Bryan, “Artemis!”

    “She’s coming.” said an unfamiliar voice, but Bryan’s head snapped towards the voice.

    There was a lean man with layered black hair, steel blue eyes was holding a knife against my fifteen year old daughter’s throat, “Let her go goddamn it!” I yelled, advancing towards him.

    “Rev. stop. Max? What the hell are you doing here?” Bryan ordered.

    “Why do you think, dear Bryan?” the guy asked right back at him with a small seductive smile.

    “Fuck you, Max. We’re done with. I don’t love you anymore.” Bryan growled the answer.

    “That wasn’t what you were telling me five months ago when I was fucking you every night.” Max shot back, anger blazing in his eyes, “Ronnie told me where I could find your cheating bitch ass.”

    “So? We’re fucking through, Max! I never cheated on you and you were getting fucking abusive towards the end our relationship. Now let go of Rev.’s daughter or I’m going to call the cops.” he threatened, reaching for the phone.

    “Oh like I haven’t heard that one before.” he sneered at us then whispered in Artemis’s ear, “Where’s your momma, girl?”

    I felt the tears hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest as Artemis answered calmly, “He’s dead. He’s been dead since I was eight.”

    I hated when the subject of Mikey was brought up, “Dead? How?” Max asked her, placing a hand on the top of her auburn haired head.

    She knew what to tell people when she was asked about it, “He committed suicide.” she answered smoothly.

    “What was his name?” he questioned more.

    “Mikey.” she replied, taking deep breaths.

    Max looked up with a wicked grin, “Gerard’s brother too? Well aren’t you just working up the lines, dear infamous Reverend Tholomew Plague? Yeah I know who you are so don’t act surprised.” he commented, acid dripping from his words.

    “Infamous? I hardly doubt that, Mr. Green.” I answered, a cutting fierceness in my voice, “Thought I didn’t know who you were? Thanks to my daughter you’re holding a knife too and my beloved Bryan I know exactly who you are. You’re the damnable bassist for Escape The Fate.”

    “You do your research well, but you’re better at stealing other men’s boyfriends.” he lashed back, pressing the knife a little harder into Artemis’s throat.

    “James stop, okay? You’re not helping here.”Bryan hissed at me, “Max, let go of Artemis and we can talk about this.”

   “Talk?” he laughed wicked, glaring at Bryan, “Why would I want to talk with a fucking whore like yourself?”

Chapter Ten

    I rolled over and heard the crinkling sound of paper. I opened my eyes slowly, the sunlight stinging my sensitive eyes and my hangover began with a throbbing pain in my head, “Fuck.” I whimpered into my pillows then read the note Bryan left me. I’ve gone to Ronnie’s to practice with the band, should be home in a couple of hours. I also took Artemis to school this morning. Tylenol and water are on your bedside table when you’ve awakened. Love Bryan. “Thank you, love that you thought of me before you left.” I whispered, rolling over to see the promised water and medicine. I took them quickly and laid my aching head back down.

    Thwap! I heard somewhere in my house and I cringed at the sudden noise that invaded the peaceful silence. I felt a bounce on my bed and someone yell, “Wake up Rev.! Time for practice!”

    “Fuck off, I’ve got a hangover!” I growled, burying my head in the pillows.

    “I know, isn’t it wonderful?” asked the voice and I recognized it.

    “If you don’t get the hell out Johnny, I’m going to crush your balls so you can never have kids with that woman Lacey!” I snarled, looking at him through squinted eyes.

    He got off my bed and covered his privates with his hands, “I think not!” he answered.

    I made to get out of bed, but he ran from my room, “Fucking asshole.” I muttered, lying back down as my headache worsened.

    A minute later though someone considerably heavier then Johnny jumped on me, “Get the fuck up Rev. and stop mopping around!” came Matt’s voice.

    “You fucking assholes, I’ve got a hangover and I’m not mopping!” I snarled at him.

    “So what? We all have hangovers, just not as bad as yours.” he replied, getting off me now.

    I rolled over onto my stomach, “Fuck you, I’m not going today.” I grumbled, closing my watering eyes.

    “You’re so stubborn when you’re got a hangover!” Matt growled and I heard a door slam, making me wince in pain.

    I groaned into my pillows and fell back to sleep after a few pained minutes. When I awoke the second time it was to soft kisses being placed around my throat, “About time you wake!” Bryan laughed, noticing my eyes had fluttered open, “How do you feel?”

    I sat up slowly, “Better. I don’t have a headache any more, so that’s a good sign.” I said slowly, rubbing at my eyes, “Guess I should go apologize to the band.”

    “I heard you were being a bitch this morning about being disturbed from sleep.” Bryan stated, looking me dead in the eyes.

    I blushed, “I was.” I admitted to him.

    “Then yes, that would be a good idea for you to do, lovely.” he answered with a small smile.

    I got up out of bed and got dressed quietly, “Umm… Artemis should be home soon. Just tell her I went to see Uncle Matt and I’ll bring something home for dinner.” I sighed, grabbing my keys ad ran a hand through my hair.

    Bryan wrapped his arms around my waist lightly, “You’re sounding like I’m just a housekeeper and not your boyfriend.” he whispered in my ear, placing a soft kiss to my neck.

    “I’m sorry, I was just thinking about something when I said that.” I answered.

    “About?” he asked, interest laced his voice lightly.

    I shrugged, turning to face him, “About some personal matters I need to deal with alone. I’ll be home later. I’m going to go by the cemetery before I come home.” I stated, leaving my room with him.

    “Okay.” he answered, “I’ll tell Artemis what you said and I’ll wait for you.”

    I nodded and opened the front door, “I’ll be back soon. I love you.” I breathed gently.

    “I love you more.” he giggled, “Don’t be long.”

    I leaned in and kissed his lips, “I won’t.” I said then left the house, got in my car, and headed to Matt’s place. I got there in ten minutes and knocked on the door, which was opened by Zacky, “Hey.”

    “Hey. Matt, Sleeping bitching Beauty is here!” he yelled over his shoulder with a grin.

    I stepped inside as Shadows approached me, “Oh look the bitch finally got up to join us.” he sneered at me.

    I shrugged at him, “Guess I deserve that, but you’re being a bitch too.” I replied, use to this kind of shit from M.

    He was a bitch also when he had a hangover; well everyone was when it came to that, “So? We still practiced with pounding headaches throughout the whole thing.” he muttered back, wince a little.

    I smirked at that, “Do I see the almighty Shadows flinching from a headache?” I laughed, poking him in the chest, which he swatted away.

    “No.” he growled, turning away from me.

    I followed him as he went to his lounge and sat in a chair next to the couch which was occupied by Zacky and Synyster and Johnny sat in another chair, “Look I came by to say I’m sorry for being a little butch this morning and not coming to practice.” I grumbled, putting my hands behind my back, “I’ve got to go because I’m going to the cemetery tonight.”

    “Rev., don’t go.” Johnny whispered, looking up at me from his seat.

    “Yeah, don’t go. It won’t serve any good to go to his grave.” Syn sighed, looking at me as well.

    I looked away from them both, “I know it won’t, but there is a peace I can find there and no where else.” I said, turning back in the direction of he front door.

    “You’ve found peace in your new boyfriend.” Shadows argued.

    I turned my head towards him and sadly smile, “No, actually I haven’t found peace there yet.” I murmured, walking to the door, “He’s only three years older then Mikey was when he died.Bryan’s 26 when my Mikey was only 23 on that fateful day of our lives.”

    I heard footsteps, “Rev.” Zacky’s voice halted me, “I want to go with you.”

    I faced him, “Why?” I asked curiously, knowing that none of them had gone to Mikey’s grave since the day of the funeral. A tear slipped down my face, “Why now? None of you have been to his grave in seven long years, Zacky. Why do you choose now to go?”

    He shrugged, “I don’t know. I just suddenly want to go to his grave with you.” He insisted softly.

    I opened the door, “Whatever.” I mumbled and went out to my car as he told Syn he was going with me. He got in a minute later and we took off to the cemetery nearby. I parked along side the road and we got out, went through the iron gates, passed by a few mourners at different graves until we came close to Mikey’s and I saw another person, two actually next to the grave. We approached slowly and I stepped on a dry twig, snapping it and the two people at grave looked up and I recognized them, “Gerard, Jonny it’s kind of surprising to see you here.”

    “Not as much as it is to see the person with you here.” Gerard replied, turning his attention back to the engraved tombstone, “We were just about to leave anyways.”

    He whispered something under his breath, patted the tombstone, and they both got up, “I’m so sorry, Gerard.” I whispered in his ear as I gave him a hug and Jonny too.

    He gave the same sad smile I had given Shadows, “It wasn’t your fault for what happened, James. It was fate who took control of things at that dreadful moment.” he rambled, “We’ll see you around.”

    I nodded and they took their leave, “Can you give me a few minutes alone?” I asked Zacky, who nodded and moved along, looking at other graves. I kneeled in front of the tombstone that read Mikey’s full name, date of birth and death and then a small piece of who he was to us all. I brushed my hand against the word lover and motherly figure in that small piece and another tear found its way down my cheek, “I miss you so very much that I don’t think this hole in my heart will ever be patched up again.”

    “It’ll patch up with time and love from Bryan.” answered his voice.

    I looked up to see his shimmering form sitting on top of his tombstone, a small smile upon his face and his eyes bright, “How can it? I cannot ever forgive myself for what I have done.” I breathed, wiping at my tears roughly.

    “Still a cowering, whimpering baby?” sneered another very familiar voice.

    “Oh go stick your head in a jar of sap, you two bitten villain!” Mikey yelled at the gleaming figure of Tripp.

    “Aw lovely, I rather fuck you then do that.” he answered him.

    “Oh you’re on your last strike now, Trippy.” Mikey laughed, which sounded like silver chimes, “One more bad move and you go straight to hell, though I wouldn’t mind if you went there.”

    “He’s in-?” I gasped.

    “Heaven? Yes, unfortunately he is, but one more move like that and he gets kicked out and straight to hell he goes.” Mikey finished, sticking his tongue out at him.

    I shook my head, confused by it all, “Why do you still love this baby? He’s worthless now and I don’t see why I wanted to kill him so badly when I was alive.” Tripp smirked evilly.

    “I remember quite well why.” he answered his question, “Because he had my love and you didn’t. He’s all I ever wanted and all I still want. Now go away. I believe you’re wanted up top since someone is interested in talking to you about your behavior.”

    Tripp’s image faded and Mikey looked back at me, “I’m so confused!” I whined, putting my head in my hands.

    I felt a shiver run down my spine when Mikey touched me, “It’ll make sense one day. Go home to Artemis and Bryan. They’re waiting for you and I’ll see you again some day.” he whispered and then he also faded.

    I shook my head as I heard Zacky return, “Are you alright?” he asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

    I nodded and got up, “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go.” I said then place a hand on the tombstone lovingly and whispered, “I love you, Mikey. I’ll see you again one day.” Then we left and I took Zacky back to Shadows and then went home to my family.

Chapter Nine

    I put my head down on the bar for a second before I heard Johnny yell over the blaring music, “Hey Rev., are you sleeping over there?”

    I shook my head, “No, just can’t see right.” I answered back, raising my head off the bar to look at him. The world spun around me as I got up then I found myself on my ass on the floor. I grinned foolishly and threw my arms up, “I’m done!”

    The guys were laughing at me and I heard Matt, “I was starting to wonder how many it would take to get you intoxicated.”

    “I’m not drink, just tipsy.” I replied with a smile.

    “Bullshit! You’re drunk!” Zack yelled at me.

    “Fuck you! I can out drink you any day!” I replied, starting to get back up so I could stand.

    “Oh ho, but can you out drink us all?” Zack challenged softly in my ear, “Because if you can’t Syn and I can get you tonight.”

    I shook my head, “No. I’m not playing your games this time. I have a boyfriend now and I’m not going to lose him because of your games.”

    “Oh? Who is he?” Zack asked, interest laced dangerously throughout his voice.

    “That’s none of your business.” I stated, a small angry ball forming in the bottom of my stomach.

    I looked around and started walking away; well I was swaying more then just walking. I turned my head to look at my friends to see if any of them were following, but they were and I walked right into someone, “Hey watch it!” the guy yelled, turning to look at me.

    “Frank?” I asked, mildly surprised to see him here, “What are you doing here?”

    “Oh… hi James.” he said, looking away from me, “I was dancing before you stumbled into me.”

    “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve got to go…someone’s expecting me home.” I said then started away when another guy walked up to Frank. I stopped and looked at him, “You’re Ronnie Radke?” I asked, surprised again.

    “Yeah, I believe that’s my name. Do I know you?” the guy asked.

    He was cute, just as cute as Bryan was, but he looked masculine while Bryan looked feminine, well you get my point. I shook my head, “No, not unless you got the pleasure of knowing the old drummer for the band Avenged Sevenfold.” I answered.

    He shook his head too, “I never got the pleasure but I know who you are now. The Rev. right?” he asked, taking Frankie’s hand in his own and Frank looked a little uncomfortable about this, “How’d you know my name?”

    “Through a ‘friend’. Yes it’s Rev.” I answered after a few seconds, “Frank, are you okay?”

    “Hmm… yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking.” he answered slowly.

    I stepped close to him again and whispered in his ear, “Bryan was right. You’re just as lucky as I am.”

    He looked at me shocked, “You know Bryan ‘Monte’ Money?” he questioned me.

    Ronnie snapped his fingers and shook a finger at me, “Okay this one I know about! You’re the guy that Bryan is housekeeper for, that’s why he has quit the band for a week or so. Lucky bitch, but I also know he was suppose to hook up with you too. Has that happened or are you giving him a challenge?” he asked with a wide smirk.

    “In ways it has, but others it’s a challenge for him because I’m not completely over my old lover.” I stated, looking away from them.

    “I’m sorry, James. I shouldn’t have done that to him that night.” Frankie sighed, looking down at his feet helplessly.

    “It wasn’t your fault Frank.” I muttered, gathering him into a hug, “It was ours. We didn’t think, we just reacted.”

    “It’s Frankie!” he laughed, wiping at the tears that had escaped while I had been whispering in his ear.

    “Well sorry, Frankie!” I giggled then smiled foolishly, “Could you guys give me a ride home?” I asked, “You know Artemis would like to see you again.”

    Frank looked at Ronnie who nodded, “Yeah we can give you a ride since you are obviously drunk and without transportation.” he said then they began to walk towards the front door.

    “I’m not drunk, just tipsy! Why does everyone say I’m drunk? There’s a different! I’d be passed out if I was drunk!” I exclaimed, following them.

    “You’ll pass out soon.” Ronnie said softly as we exited the club.

    “Whatever.” I muttered, getting into their car and they took me home.

    “Daddy!” I heard a voice yell and I was pounced on the moment I opened the house door, “Eww! You stink!” Artemis complained, standing up again.

    “I can only wonder why!” I heard Frankie say from outside.

    “Uncle Frankie?” Artemis questioned and then ran to him when she recognized his voice, “It is you!”

    “Babe, come help me since my rotten daughter cares more for her uncle!” I yelled, but he was probably going to let me suffer for a few minutes.

    “Bryan!” Ronnie yelled out for his friend.

    “What?” came his response.

    “You can’t just leave your lover on the floor you know?” he asked of Bryan, who was standing before us with a pair of shorts on and no shirt.

    He looked at me, his head tilted to the side a little, “Who says I can’t and who said he was my lover?” he questioned, a smirk playing on his lips.

    “Loving Rev said, but not straight out might I add.” he replied as they came inside, stepping over me.

    I groaned, “Will someone please help me up?” I asked, looking up at the ceiling while I still lay on my back.

    I heard a soft giggle, “Suppose I should help or I won’t get what I want.” Bryan said softy, taking my hand in his and pulled me up off the floor.

    I wrapped my arms around his waist when I stood and kissed him lightly on the lips, “You were close not to be getting anything from me.” I breathed in his ear.

    “I know I was.” he replied, “Now I’ve got a question for you Frank. Why’d you try to hide Ronnie from public?” Bryan turned in my arms to regard him.

    “I’ve… I’ve got a reputation that I didn’t want to ruin his.” he answered truthfully, wrapped up in Ronnie’s arms while they lounged on the couch.

    “A reputation that followed you from Europe.” I observed quietly.

    He muzzled his face into Ronnie’s chest, “I wish it hadn’t.”

    “That’s what happens sometimes.” I replied, kissing along Bryan’s neck slowly and bit the skin when I got to the base of his neck.

    “All this gay love is making me sick.” Artemis laughed, “I’m going to bed since I’ve got school tomorrow.”

    I smiled against Bryan’s skin at the statement, “Fine then go to bed and leave us to our fun.” I stated, running my fingertips down his bare chest.

    She waved her hands behind her as she climbed the steps up to the second floor where her room was, ours was on the ground floor, not that it bugged me and the guest room was on the second floor, “So where’s Max, Omar, and Robert?” Bryan asked, slipping out of my grasp and I groaned audibly.

    He looked at me as he sat in a chair across from them and grinned evilly, going to kneel in front of him. I slid my fingertips along the inside of his thighs, making his shiver softly and then I heard a groan and it wasn’t from Bryan either. I looked over to them, noting they had pulled a blanket over their laps, and Frankie’s eyes were bare slits, “You two had better not make a mess on my daughter’s favorite blanket.” I stated with a smirk that matched the one Ronnie had cause he thought I had an idea what he was doing to Frankie under that blanket.

    “They’re probably at their homes if I know any better.” Ronnie answered as I continued with my plans.

    Bryan I knew, was watching me as I brushed my fingertips over the bulge in his jeans and he gave a small whimper, wanting more then I was giving him, but he continued his conversation with Ronnie as I unbuttoned his jeans and slowly slid them down, “Go figure. Are they still dating?” he asked.

    “Who?” Ronnie asked, a slight pant evident in his voice and I kept my back to them as I slipped my lips over Bryan’s hard member.

    He gave a small sigh of relief as I slid up and down slowly, licking him and placing small kisses here and there, “Max and Omar.” he said, his fingers finding their way into my hair.

    “Nope they called it a quit a few days ago, actually the same night you left the band.” he answered and I could heard Frankie’s soft moans get louder as he got closer to his orgasm and I knew Bryan was close because his fingers tightened on my hair.

    I pulled away from him for a moment, blowing on his tip softly. I heard someone hit the ground and I turned around to look. Ronnie was on his knees in front of his love and I turned my back to them yet again, looking up into Bryan’s pleading eyes that begged me to finish what I had started, “Rev…” he groaned softly, pulling me back towards him.

    I giggled, “Okay, okay.” I slipped back over him as I heard Frankie groan louder then the rest of them and I knew he had reached his climax.

    There was shuffling for a minute then, “Still not there, Bryan?” came Frankie’s teasing voice from behind me and I felt someone against me.

    I tensed slightly and they moved away from me as he answered Frank, “No, but so…” he released his load into the back of my throat after one more hard suck, “close.” he finished his sentence and I laughed as I sat back away from him and admired the beauty before me. He smirked, “That was kinky. You guys can stay here for the night or go home and do what you please, but I’m going to bed now.”

    They sprawled out on the couch together, “We’ll stay.” they answered and I got up to follow Bryan to bed, “Night!” they yelled and we closed the door.

Chapter Eight

    I felt light breaths on my cheek and I rolled over onto my stomach. I then felt hands go down the back of my jeans and I opened my eyes, turned my head and looked into Bryan’s innocent eyes, “Welcome back to the living, sleepy head.” he whispered and kissed me softly on the cheek.

    I laid my head back on the pillows, “Mm hmm…” I grunted, closing my eyes again, trying to fall asleep again but Bryan wasn’t going to have it that now.

    “Rev. baby, play with me.” he sighed softly in my ear and I turned onto my back, looking up at him in the moonlight that flood my room again this dark night.

    He slowly undid my jeans, kissing down my bare chest as his fingers slipped over the rim of my jeans and the elastic band of my boxers pulling them down. He threw them across my room and pulled his own clothes off except his boxers, and they joined my jeans on the floor somewhere, “Bryan…” I groaned as he looked down at me with hungry eyes.

    He snaked back up my body and kissed me lightly on the lips, “Yeah baby?” he asked teasingly.

    “I need you.” I breathed softly.

    He wrapped his hand around my rock hard erection and my hips bucked involuntary upwards at the contact, “You want this?” he asked teasingly, giving me a few strokes, “Or do you need this?” he questioned again then his warm mouth enclosed around my length.

    I ran my fingers through his hair, “That.” I answered and my hips bucked again, making him take more of me into his mouth and I could feel him smile around me. I growled in the back of my throat as he began to slid up and down me, sucking softly, “Oh…” I gripped his hair as I felt a pressure increase just below my stomach as he picked up his speed and began to pick up his speed. A couple minutes later I released my load into the back of his throat with a rather loud moan and Bryan swallowed all that I gave him greedily, “Come here, beautiful.” I panted, gaining my breath back slowly.

    He crawled back up to me and I flipped us over so I was on top of him, carefully placing my weight on him. He giggled, feeling my once again hard erection against his leg as I laid between his legs, leaning on one arm for a little balance, “Want more now, Revvy?” he asked, running his fingers up and down my spine slowly.

    “I need more.” I whispered and started to push into him. He tensed, restricting me from any more movement, and I leaned down kissing along his neck, “Relax baby, it’ll be more pleasant for us both.”

    I felt him relax around me and I continued my movement, searching for his prostate. It took me a while to locate it, hey I haven’t done this in a while, so leave me alone, “Rev…” he moaned out loudly and I was afraid he was going to wake Artemis so I attached my lips to his, licking at his lower lip and he opened his mouth, permitting me to explore his mouth with my tongue as he did the same to me.

    I put my hands to the sides of his head as our kiss deepened and became more passionate as my thrusts picked up in speed, “Mmm…” I groaned into his mouth.

    He lifted his head off the pillows for a minute, his fingernails digging into my back, “Rev… harder, please.” Bryan begged against my ear, biting at my throat, and most were going to leave marks in the morning. He tossed his head back and closed his eyes as I obeyed his order, pressing harder into him. Time went by as his nails left scratch mark on my back and shoulders and then I heard him groan, “Oh god… so close…” he panted heavily, stroking himself in time with my thrusts and our sweat slicked body continued to rub against each other in the heat of our love.

    I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer, losing my fight to hold my orgasm back as long as I could, but that wasn’t for long as I moaned loud and released my load into Bryan and his spilled between us on our stomachs. I laid on top of him lightly then rolled off him, removing myself from him and I gathered him up to my sweaty chest, kissing his forehead, “Wonderful…” I sighed, kissing him again.

    “Aren’t we?” he asked, sleepiness apparent in his voice as he laid his head against my chest and caressed the skin of my stomach softly.

    “That we are, lovely, now go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning light.” I replied quietly as we both drifted off to sleep.

    I felt a bounce on my bed and I opened my eyes, “Can’t a man get some decent sleep around here?” I asked, burying my face into Bryan’s short hair and tightened my arms around him.

    “Nope, now get up dad! Uncle Shads wants to see you sometime today. You know like before night decides to fall.” Artemis ordered, jumping up and down on the bed. I didn’t miss the death glare Bryan was giving her as he buried his face in the pillows again. I started pulling the blankets away from my body, “Hey can you wait until I get out of the room to do that? Jeez!” she exclaimed, jumping off the bed and ran out of the room, closing the door behind her.

    Bryan picked his head up for a minute, “Wow that was fast.” he giggled then dropped his head back on the pillow and started to go back to sleep.

    I pulled the blankets back over me and wrapped my arms around him again, “Shads can just wait until I feel content in moving from my warm bed and away from my new lover.” I muttered into his hair.

    There was a knocking on my bedroom door, “Rev. come on! You’ve got a practice to attend to this afternoon.” yelled M.’s voice from the other side of my door.

    “Okay nevermind, he’s going to drag me from my bed if he has too.” I groaned, getting up at that, “Fuck Shads it’s only morning!” I yelled back, pulling some boxers and pants on.

    I opened my door to looked at a smirking Shadows, “I take it you haven’t looked at a clock, have you?” he asked with a light shrug.

    “Do I look like I’ve done much? Fuck no I haven’t looked at a clock.” I growled at him.

    “My dear friend, it’s like three in the afternoon.” he replied and I looked at him shocked.

    “Is it really?” I asked confused.

    I was usually up by ten in the morning; “He’s right, baby.” came Bryan’s voice from my bed.

    Matt poked his head into the room and then looked at me, “Sleeping with your housekeeper are you?” he smirked again.

    “He’s my boyfriend too, thank you very much.” I blushed terribly, searching for a shirt.

    “Oh is he? It took you what seven years to get a new one and move on with your life?” he teased.

    “Shut up or you can keep your shitty drummer and I’ll continue to be a stay at home dad.” I threatened him, shaking a shirt at him too.

    He put his arms up in a protective manner while laughing, “I’d like to regain our title of best artist.” he said softly, “Hurry up, the guys are waiting at my house for us.”

    “I’ll be there in a minute. Let me get ready.” I said, pushing him out my door. I pulled my shirt on that I had in my hand, did my make-up and hair, and then sat on the bed next to Bryan. I leaned down and kissed him sweetly on the lips, “I guess I’ve got to go to practice, so I’ll see you later tonight, much later.” I sighed, “I have a feeling they’re going to take me out for drinks afterwards.”

    He smiled, “Well I’ll be here waiting and I’ll move from bed eventually, just haven’t figured out when.” he giggled, pressing his lips against mine again.

    I returned it then stood, “I’ll see you later, babe.”

    “Okay.” he answered, his voice muffled by the pillows again.

    I walked out of my room and almost walked into Matt, who stood just outside my door, “You brink wall, can’t you move?” I asked, laughing a little at his shocked look.

    “I’m not a brick wall.” he stated, walking to the front door with me.

    “You are too. You feel like one when someone walks right into you” I replied, opening the door and went out.

    “Whatever, Reverend.” he answered getting into his car and I got in the passengers side then left for his place.

Chapter Four

    As Artemis was ordering pizza my cell phone went off. I picked it up and saw it was Shadows number, “Hey Shadows, what’s going on?” I asked, answering the call after two rings.

    “Nothing much. Who’s on the house phone?” M. asked right back.

    “Artemis is ordering pizza for dinner.” I said softly.

    There was a pause for a second, “Have you considered a change in mind about my offer?” he asked, desperation sounded in his voice.

    “Like I’ve told everyone else I’m not going back to the band. I’m raising a daughter and living a semi-normal life.” I answered, “I’ve got to go. I’ve got company and I need to call Gerard.”

    “Okay. Talk to later, Rev.” he said.

    “Yeah later, M.” I replied then hung up.

    When I looked up Bryan wore a small smirk on his face, “I know who you are now.” he stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

    “Well good for you and I know who you are.” I replied sarcastically, heaving a sigh.

    “No, no, no, not what I meant. You’re The Reverend Tholomew Plague, the drummer for Avenged Sevenfold. The band members of that band are the only one who truly know M. Shadows, and you would be one of the few people whom he’d call.” he answered, sitting next to me on the couch.

    “No, that’s where you’ve got it wrong.” responded a female voice before I could answer myself, “He use to be the drummer for A7X and use to be known as The Rev., but he hasn’t been called by that name or been in the band since I was eight.”

    “Artemis is right Mr. Money. They’re offering my position back, but I’m not taking it back.” I stated firmly.

    “You know what, Bryan you seem really familiar to me, like I’ve seen you before now.” Artemis said slowly, “Hold on I’ve got it! You’re the bassist for that new band Escape The Fate that I just saw a week or so ago, am I right?” she asked him.

    He chuckled softly, “You’re a smart one. Actually I was a guitarist, not bassist, until Gerard asked me to be a housekeeper for you guys. I might just go back here pretty soon though after I get settled in, well that’s what I told Ronnie anyways.” he replied, looking down at his hands for a moment, “That’s the most treasured thing I have in my life, is my place in that band. Max Green is our bassist though, not me.”

    “Yeah. I think that’s what dad felt at one time.” she answered, looking at me.

    I stared right back, “At one time? Hell I still feel that way!” I said, throwing my hands up, “Now if you excuse me I’ve got to call your Uncle Gerard and maybe your Uncle Frankie, if he’s not too busy with his new lover.”

    “Oh, Uncle Frankie’s got a new lover?” she asked, giggling a little as I got up.

    “Yeah and this one’s staying as he told me, but he wouldn’t let me meet him.” I observed quickly.

    “Aw he’s no fun!” she pouted, poking her full bottom lip out.

    “Who is Frankie?” asked Bryan from his seat on the couch.

    “Frank Iero. He’s the guitarist for My Chemical Romance.” I stated, turning to leave the room.

    “You say he won’t let you meet his new lover. Hmm… that’s odd cause I personally know his lover and he wouldn’t care if people knew if he was with Frank or not.” Bryan replied with a smile.

    “Well apparently Frank doesn’t want people to know who it is, because he has a reputation of being a whore.” I pointed out then left the room, calling Gerard.

    After three rings someone picked up, “Hello?” he asked.

    “I’m presuming this is Jonny?” I answered.

    “Hey Jimmy. Are you wanting Gerard?” he replied.

    “Jimmy? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. Yeah actually I am looking for Gerard, I need to bitch him out.” I laughed.

    “Oh? About what?” he asked, his voice lightly held curiosity.

    “About this housekeeper he got me.” I said, walking into my room.

    “Oh, met him already?” he laughed, “Okay hold on. Gerard baby, James is on the phone!” I heard him yell.

    A few seconds later he answered, “Yes?” he asked.

    “You know I hate you right?” I questioned him right back.

    “Aw why?” he responded.

    “Because you just had to find the hottest guy to could, didn’t you? Plus you told him what I am!” I replied, with a wicked laugh.

    “So? He’s the same as you, didn’t he tell you that? Guess not. You need another lover anyways. How long has it been since you’ve been laid?” he commented lightly.

    “I kind of figured he was gay after he told me he liked what he saw. It’s been seven years, all right? And I’m still heartbroken from what I had done!” I growled into the phone.

    “And I know my brother wouldn’t have wanted you to waste your life away.” he answered right back, “So take a chance and go for it.”

    “I know for a damn fact that he doesn’t want me to waste my life, because he told me himself this morning while I was sleeping.” I muttered, pacing my room.

    “Well there you go. Take Mikey’s advice if not someone who is alive.” he giggled then I heard him talk to Jonny for a second, “Jonny love, if you don’t stop that, you’re in trouble.”

    I laughed at that, “I don’t want to know what he’s doing!” I exclaimed.

    “You pervert! It’s nothing bad.” he laughed too, “Have you figured out who our mystery lover is to Frankie?”

    I shook my head, “Nope, but Bryan knows who it is since he ‘personally’ know the guy.” I replied, sitting on my bed, my back to the door.

    “See if you can find out from him cause I’m curious now, especially if this one is staying.” he said, “Well I need to go before Jonny tears our apartment down. Talk to you later, James.”

    “Okay I’ll see what I can find out. Later Gerard.” I said then hung up. I put my head in my hands, looking at the wall in front of me blankly, “How the hell am I suppose to ask about someone’s personal life when he doesn’t want people to know?” I asked out loud.

    “It depends on who’s personally life you want to know about.” answered a voice behind me and I turned to look into Bryan’s eyes as he sat on the other side of my queen sized bed, “Such a big bed for one person to sleep on.” he commented, running one of his hands over the blood red satin blankets.

    “I’ve no one to share it with and that’s how I like it right now.” I responded, sliding a little as I shifted my position on the bed, “It’s Frankie’s personal life I want to know about. We all are curious as to know who his mystery lover is.”

    “And you want me to answer that question for you?” he pointed out the obvious, moving a little closer to me.

    “I don’t, but Gerard does.” I said, looking away as he continued to inch closer to me.

    “I already told you the answer earlier, actually I just mentioned the guy really.” he replied, pulling my face towards his until I looked at him again, “What are you afraid of, Rev.?” he asked softly.

    “No you didn’t. I don’t remember… are you telling me that the guy Ronnie is Frank’s lover?” I asked confused slightly, “I’m not afraid of anything, it’s just things have happened in my life I rather not repeat. Don’t use my old stage name.”

    He pressed his lips against mine for a second, “Then don’t repeat them if you don’t want too,” he answered, “and yes Ronnie Radke, one of the world’s hottest guys, is dating the famous MCR guitarist Frank Iero, and I’ll use you stage name if I want too.”

    There was a cough from the doorway, “Pizza is here and you’re paying, dad since I don’t have the money right now.” Artemis informed.

    I looked at her “You’re lucky I love you so much, or you’d be finding a way to pay for that pizza.” I stated, getting off of my bed and walked away from a disappointed Bryan.

    I went to the door and paid the pizza guy, “Thank you.” the guy said handing me two pizza boxes and then left.

    I closed the door, “Yeah whatever.” I muttered then went to the kitchen and set the boxes on the counters, “Dinner’s ready!” I yelled to Bryan and Artemis.

    I grabbed a couple slices and left the kitchen as they entered. I went back to my room, closing the door and sat on my bed, picking at my food for a few minutes, taking a few bites then place the plate on my bedside table and went to sleep.

Chapter Three

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    I felt someone jump on me and I groaned in pain, “Oh! Sorry daddy!” I heard then felt a kiss on my cheek.

    “Why must you jump on me when I’m sleeping?” I asked Artemis as I slowly opened my eyes to look into her forest green eyes.

    She shrugged, “I don’t know, because I can. Here, Uncle Gerard’s on the phone.” she replied, handing me my cell phone.

    “You and your sneakiness. I never even heard it.” I said, yawning and took the phone from her, “Hello, Gerard. What’s going on?”

    “Hey, nothing much. Expect someone at your house either tonight or tomorrow night. He said he had to take care of some things before he started working for you.” Gerard answered, “Where are you right now?”

    “Umm… I’m at Johnny’s. Hey have you met Frankie’s lover?” I asked him, still curious of who it was.

    “I wouldn’t know, sorry to say. He hasn’t talked to me much lately, not even at band practices.” he replied.

    “Hmm… he acted really oddly when I told him I wanted to meet him.” I responded, looking around.

    There was silence for a minute, “I don’t know, but anyways I’ve got to go. I just wanted to tell you to be expecting someone soon.” he answered then hung up.

    I snapped my phone shut and Artemis sat on my lap, “What did he want?” she asked, putting her arm around my neck.

    “God you’re getting big to sit in my lap.” I laughed, “He was just notifying me about something. What time is it?”

    She paused, “Umm… good question. Uncle Zack and Brain left towards four then Uncle Johnny said he had to go to work towards five, so it probably around five-thirty or six.” she answered after a minute.

    “Are you ready to go home?” I asked, stretching a little.

    She nodded, “Yeah, I’m ready to go home and to bed.” she replied, leaning her head against my shoulder.

    She had Mikey’s personality all right, “Well sorry baby girl, I’m not carrying you.” I stated while she got off my lap.

    “Daddy please?” she poked her lip out.

    “Nope, not falling for it this time.” I said, getting up out of the chair, “My spoiled princess can walk.”

    We walked out of the apartment, locking it since we had a key, “I’m not spoiled.” she replied, following me downstairs and to Frankie’s apartment complex so we could get the car.

    “Oh yeah? Who’s been on tour and all over the country since she was two?” I asked her as we got into the car, “Who gets what she wants when she wants it?”

    “I can only wonder.” she answered sarcastically as we started down the road and towards home, “You really have to go to a therapist tomorrow?”

    “As much as I’m ashamed to say, yes I do.” I replied, keeping my eyes on the road.

    “But why?” she asked, shock apparent in her voice.

    I paused considering whether to tell her why or not, “I… I’ve been abusing alcohol and drugs.” I muttered, taking her hand in mine and gave it a light squeeze.

    “Dad… why? How… how could you have kept that from me?” she asked, squeezing my hand harder, “How long?”

    “Two years.” I said softly, looking at her briefly then back to the road as we neared our house, “Most of our friends know about it, so I’m getting help.

    “It’s going to be all right, dad.” she whispered as we parked in front of the house.

    “I know. I’m sorry baby girl.” I responded then got out of our car.

    “Well I’m going to take a nap and I’ll be up soon.” she stated, walking into the house.

    I nodded slowly, “All right. I’ll see you when you wake.” I kissed her on the cheek and gave her a hug before she ran off to the house, leaving me to stand outside thinking then I went inside and laid on the couch, falling asleep soon after.

 <o:p></o:p>

    Knock, knock. A pounding woke me, “I’m coming!” I yelled, getting off the couch and going to the door. I opened it and looked at a platinum blond haired guy, “Umm… can I help you?” I asked.

    He looked at me for a minute then back at a piece of paper, “Yeah, do you know where I can find a Mr. James Sullivan?” he asked me.

    I smiled lightly at his shyness, “That would be me.” I answered, “Come in… umm… what’s your name?”

    “Bryan. Bryan ‘Monte’ Money. I’m suppose to be your housekeeper.” he commented, but I wasn’t paying attention to what was being said. Instead I was paying attention to his body, how toned it was and how he looked like an angel. His face was soft, eyebrows arching, and his lips full and inviting, “Like what you see, Mr. Sullivan?”

    I looked away from him embarrassed, “Maybe.” I muttered, feeling my cheeks get warm.

    “Mr. Way told me about you. That’s half the reason he hired me.” he said, looking me up and down as I had him, “I’m liking what I see.”

    “Dad, who’s this?” came my daughter’s voice.

    I turned to look at her and laughed, Her hair was tangled and messy from her nap and her eyeliner had kind of smudged, “This is Bryan Money. Bryan, this is my daughter Artemis. Baby girl, he’ll be living with us for a while, am I correct?” I introduced, looking at him when I said that last part.

    “Yeah, unless you don’t have room for me, then I just go rent an apartment.” he confirmed.

    “No, no, we’ve got a spare room!” Artemis stated hurriedly, “I’ll show you to it.”

    I nodded, “You can do that and when you’re done I need to talk to you about something.” I said softly in her ear as I walked back into the lounge.

    “Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.” she responded, “Come on Mr. Money, this way.”

    When they were out of earshot I groaned, “Goddamn Gerard. I hate him for this.” I cussed under my breath, “Tell him he can find me a housekeeper and he finds the hottest guy he possibly can to clean and live in my house!”

    “Having problems, dad?” came Artemis’s teasing voice.

    I shook my head, “Nope, none at all.” I replied sarcastically.

    “Liar!” she laughed, “I know better then to believe that. Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

    “Come sit down with me.” I ordered, sitting on the couch finally.

    “Okay, am I in trouble for something?” she asked a little nervously.

    I shook my head again and took a deep breath, “Mom’s been visiting you in your dreams.” I stated, placing my hand on her knee.

    “He… I… Yeah he has been. He told me what happened since you never mentioned it to me and tried to keep me protected from that horrifying truth.” she stammered out at last, “How did you know?”

    “He…visited me in my sleep this morning after I abused. I thought I had finally snapped, gone insane from the knowledge that I had killed him, but I hadn’t.” I mumbled the sentence, a single tear slipping down my face.

    “It wasn’t you dad, it was him that made you pull the trigger.” she whispered, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

    I looked at her with a small, sad smile, “That’s what hurts the most to know.” I replied.

    “I know, but you’ve got a really, really hot guy in the house now.” she giggled, leaning her head against my shoulder.

    “I… um…” I paused, putting my arm over her shoulder.

    “You know you want him.” she giggled again.

    “Do not!” I protested.

    “Do too!” she replied, hitting me in the ribs, “I saw how your eyes lingered on him.”

    “Did not.”  I answered weakly, cause I knew I was lying.

    “See I win. Now let’s get something to eat. Pizza sounds good. Bryan!” she yelled for him.

    He walked into the room, “Yeah?” he asked, rubbing his hands together.

    “Are you hungry?” she asked him, moving around a bit.

    He nodded, “Yeah, a little.” he replied, smiling a little.

    I watched him as Artemis said, “Good then. Dad, order the pizza please.” she ordered.

    “What? Why must I do it? You’re fifteen and seem quite able to order the pizza yourself.” I stated, looking into her deep green eyes.

    She sighed, “Fine, I’ll order the pizza and you two can ‘talk’.” she smiled teasingly as she grabbed the house phone and walked off.

Chapter Two

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    “I need help, Gerard.” I sobbed after a few minutes of our little staring contest, “I need help for myself and I need help raising Artemis.”

    “I’ll find help for you, but for raising Artemis? I don’t know. Would it bug you to go visit a therapist three times a week?” he asked me to which I shook my head, “Good, then I’ll get you in with a therapist I use to go to when I had problems.”

    “Okay… but what can I do about Artemis? I’m in no real condition to take care of her the way I should be.” I asked concerned.

    “Well any of us can help, including Frankie.” he said, “You worry about helping yourself and we’ll worry about Artemis. We can find a housekeeper/babysitter for you guys or something.”

    I looked at him startled, “A housekeeper? Do you think my house is dirty?” I asked, looking around the slightly messy room and plucked at my dirty shirt again.

    “I can barely tell you are Rev. or James! Your hair’s long and tangled, your blue eyes are bloodshot, your clothes are filthy, and you’ve got cuts on your arms!” he pointed out ruthful then answered my question, “Yes, your house is dirty. There’s no thinking about it!”

    I sighed heavily, “Okay so you win. I’ll go to a therapist tomorrow and you can find me a housekeeper. I need to go talk to Frank right now, so I’ll talk to you later.” I muttered, getting up and went to the bathroom to shower as Gerard took his leave.

 <o:p></o:p>

    “Coming!” yelled a voice as I knocked on an apartment door an hour later, clean cut and smelling pretty good, instead of smelling like cigarettes and alcohol, and looking like a homeless person. I heard a crash and, “Son of a bitch!” then the door opened to reveal a thin, healthy looking Frankie, “Oh… hi.” he muttered, his face flushing bright red.

    “Hey Frank… how have you been?” I asked, just a little uncomfortable.

    He looked away from me, “Oh, umm… all right I guess. Could you come back later? This isn’t a good time for me.” he rambled as I heard another voice, that sounded gruff like M.’s after his growl/singing, yell, “Babe, come back to bed!”

    “I’m coming in a minute!” Frank yelled back.

    I coughed, “I just came by to say I’m sorry and you can come by the house anytime.” I said then asked, “New sex toy?”

    He looked at me shocked, “No… actually this one’s staying.” he answered, beginning to close the door.

    “I’d like to meet him.” I said, putting my hand on the door to stop him from closing it.

    He was blushing horribly, “Umm…” he cleared his throat, “No, I… umm… I’ve got to go. Talk to you later, James.” he stammered then closed the door and I heard the click of the lock.

    “Okay that was odd.” I mumbled then left the apartment complex, walked three blocks to another apartment complex, went upstairs to my old apartment and knocked on the door. It opened a second later, “Hey Johnny.”

    Johnny smiled, “Well there’s the Rev. I know!” he laughed, “Much better then the dirty Rev. I saw a few days ago.”

    I ran a hand through my hair that was clean, untangled, and cut. I ran my fingers through my long hair that covered one of my eyes, “It feels good to be clean.” I smirked.

    “Hey, lovely Rev.’s here!” yelled a couple of voices and I was tackled then felt soft kisses on my lips, “Hi James.”

    “Hey Zack. Hey Brian. Could you please get off me?” I asked, and then groaned as they got up off me.

    Zacky hugged me tightly, and then pulled away with a smirk on his face, “He’s clean cut and smelling good. It’s nice to see you out of your house.” he commented.

    Brian pulled me into a hug, “Have you changed your mind to M.’s request?” he asked, stepping away from me and took Zacky’s hand in his.

    “No. I’m still standing by my earlier answer.” I answered, looking at the floor, “Can we go inside?”

    Johnny nodded, “Yeah. How’s Artemis doing? Is she behaving and doing her homework?” he asked, walking into the apartment.

    I laughed, “God forbid you ask a lot of questions today! She’s fine, she does her homework, and she gets caught making out with people, so do you count that as good behavior?” I answered, sitting on the couch and grabbed the remote, flipping though channels.

    Johnny stared at me wide-eyed than Zacky and Brian started laughing, “Good for her! That’s the way to go!” they cheered out loud.

    I laughed at them, “You two are such good examples for her too, since she takes after both of you!” I said, playfully hitting them both on the arm.

    “Aw, come on lovely, you know we are good examples for her, just not in some ways.” Zacky giggled, squeezing Brian’s arm, “That’s what happens when she’s around us all her life.”

    “Yeah, yeah go figure.” I muttered softly to which they grinned.

    “So what’s going on with you? Are you going to get help?” Johnny asked me, though his voice was barely audible.

    I nodded, “Yeah. I’m going to go to a therapist tomorrow and Gerard is going to find me a housekeeper.” I said, hanging my head and looking at my hands.

    I heard laughter and I looked up to see Brian laughing, “Gerard’s getting you a housekeeper?” he teased.

    “Shut up man! You’ve seen how my house looks right now.” I replied, smacking him hard.

    “It looks like a damn hurricane went through your place.” Johnny smirked, taking the remote from me and flipped to some movie channel.

    “That’s my point.” I responded then heard my cell phone ring. I dug it out of my pocket, “Hello?”

    “Hey dad.” came Artemis’s voice from the other line.

    “Hey baby girl! Why are you calling?” I asked, getting up and going into the kitchen.

    “Umm… I need you to come get me from the school.” she answered after a minute.

    I was quiet for a moment, “What happened this time?” I asked her.

    “Same old thing, different day.” she giggled on the other line.

    I groaned softly, “Maybe I should take you to go see the therapist with me and then you’ll learn to stop making out with people at school and getting caught all the time.” I answered with a small laugh at her gasp.

    “Well he was really hot and he started it.” she replied, “So will you come get me or do I have to walk?”

    I grinned wickedly, “Walk to your Uncle Johnny’s. I’m here and probably won’t be leaving for a while since they just got to teasing me.” I said, opening the fridge and took a beer out.

    “Okay, see you in a little bit.” she responded then hung up.

    I snapped my cell phone shut and went back out to the lounge, where the guys were watching a football game, “Who’s playing?” I asked as I sat in a recliner.

    “San Francisco 49ers and Oklahoma Raiders.” (A/N- 49ers won that game this session! ’06. I’m a 49ers fan, my brother’s a Raiders fan.) Brian replied after a minute, “What did Artemis want?”

    “To see if I’d go get her from the school.” I said, taking a swig of my drink.

    “Oh in trouble again?” Zacky asked with a grin.

    “As usual. I swear if she does it again she’s gong to the therapist with me!” I complained, “She’s getting out of hand for me!”

    “She can always spend a week or so at our place.” Brian offered.

    “And what? Be allowed to fuck anyone she wants too?” I raised an eyebrow to them.

    They both gave me a shocked, innocent look, “No never! We wouldn’t let her do that!”

    I huffed, “Whatever. She’d be doing it anyway when you two are in your bedroom.” I muttered then watched the game, not finding it that interesting right now, so I leaned the chair back and fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty Nine

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~Four years later at home~

    “Babe, do you want to go out?” James asked me as I sat on our bed, thinking about my past years of touring around the world and spending time at home with James and Artemis. She was seven now, I’m twenty-two, and my lovely James is twenty-six.

    My how times seems to go when you don’t think about it. I looked at him for a moment, “Yeah sure.” I replied, getting up and going to him. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him softly, “I love you.”

    He snaked an arm around my waist and kissed me back, “I love you too.” he replied, letting me go and walked back out into the hallway, yelling, “Artemis, we’re going out! Come on!”

    James and I started walking towards the lounge when I heard running and braced myself for the jump I was expecting. It happened a split second later with a yell of, “Mom!”

    “Hi baby girl.” I said as I lifted Artemis higher on my back, “Is your room clean now?”

    “Yep!” she replied happily, squirming down and ran at James, jumping on him.

    He stumbled forward a step at the impact, but when he turned his head towards her I saw his smile, “You’re getting strong.” he responded, picking her up and placed her on his hip, walking towards the front door.

    “Am not!” she answered as the doorbell rang. James opened it since he was at the door, “Uncle Zacky and Uncle Brian!”

    I smiled at them and nodded, grabbing Artemis’s and my coats, “Here sweetie.” I helped her with her coat and then pulled mine on, taking her from James so he could put his on.

    “Oh you guys are going out?” Brian asked with a pouting expression.

    I nodded, “Of course, there’s nothing to do here. What did you guys need?” I asked, shifting Artemis on my hip.

    “We just wanted to hang out with you guys, but since you’re going out we’ll keep Johnny company if he’s home that is.” Zacky replied.

    “Johnny’s with Matt at some bar in town, but Matt should be home with his wife rather than at some bar, drinking the night away.” James replied, since Johnny’s whereabouts were unknown to me.

    “Yeah we know that, but will he ever listen?” Brian asked, stepping closer to me and Artemis and placed a kiss on her head, “Evening, darling.”

    She put her arms around his neck and I let him take her from me with a sigh of relief. She’s wasn’t exactly heavy, but she wasn’t light either, “Uncle Brian, go see my room.” she ordered and we all laughed.

    “Why? Is it clean or does it still look like a hurricane went through it?” he asked her as they headed to her room.

    “It’s clean. Uncle Zacky, come see!” she yelled back towards us.

    Zacky shook his head and followed them. I looked at James with a small smile, “They take orders from a seven year old girl.” I commented.

    “We can leave her here with them if you want, so we can have sometime alone.” he answered and I smiled.

    “How long has it been? One week?” I asked laughing cause I knew what ‘alone’ time with him was, and I wasn’t about to pass it up either.

    He shrugged, “Yeah closer to that or longer, but god I’m sorely missing your touch.” he answered, pulling me close to him and I can feel his erection on my thigh, “Zacky, Brian!”

    They come out of Artemis’s room, Zacky carrying her now, “Yeah?” Brian mumbled softly.

    “Will you watch her while Mikey and I go out? Is that all right with you baby girl? Dad and mom need some alone time tonight.” James asked them and our one and only beautiful child.

    She nodded. She was a very smart child for only being seven and our long time friends smiled widely, “Sure, we’ll watch her.” they replied then Zacky walked close to me and whispered in my ear, “Naughty Mikey, going to play while his child is here with us.”

    I threw my hands up, “I’ve got nothing to do with this! It’s all James’s idea!” I laughed, giving my best innocent look.

    Zacky smiled and walked over to James, only to whisper god knows what in his ear, “Have fun and stay out of trouble.” Zack said when he pulled away from James.

    “No playing for you two, wait until we get home and you’re allowed to go home for that. Johnny should be home soon hopefully, but knowing him he won’t be able to watch our child in his condition. We’ll be back later.” James said as we left the apartment and went downstairs.

    I stepped out into the chilly late September night with my one truly, “Where are we going?” I asked him as we got into his car.

    He grinned, “I was thinking the movies. Where do you want to go?” he said as we pulled away from our apartment complex.

    “The movies sounds fine by me.” I replied, placing my left hand on his thigh, rubbing up and down slowly.

    He gave a small groan and we arrived at the theaters five minutes later. I got out and we walked into the building, “What do you want to watch?” he asked, taking my hand in his.

    I smiled at how open we were with our sexuality, “Lady In The Water.” I decided, looking through the list of movies that were in theaters now.

    He made a face, “Why that one?” he responded, buying our tickets.

    “Aw love, we won’t be paying attention to it anyways, so why not that one?” I answered, squeezing his hand lightly.

    He laughed, “Okay, you win.” he replied as we made our way into the room that was playing the movie. There were few people watching this one and they were all towards the front, “The back?”

    I nodded, “In the darkest corner we can find.” I answered, walking up the steps. He swept me up in his arms, “Whoa, hey!”

    “You’re still so light.” he said, kissing along my neck.

    “And your point is?” I asked him, tilting my head to give him more access.

    “That you shouldn’t be this light still.” he replied.

    “Aw! I’ve been insulted!” I said, mocking shock and then giggled, “You’re the meanest boyfriend I could ever have.”

    “I am not. You love me inside and out.” he answered, biting my neck.

    I giggled, “I think it’s the other way around. You love me inside and out.” I said as we found the dark corner we were looking for.

    He put me down and I sat next to him, “That’s not what I meant,” he said, placing his hand on my thigh lightly, “but if you want to think of it that way, then yeah that’s true.” The lights died down soon after and I got down on my knees in front of him, undoing his jeans teasingly as this movie we were suppose to watch started, “Mikey!” James breathed.

    “What?” I asked innocently, licking his head.

    He ran his fingers through my hair and groan, “That’s what!” he pulled me closer to him and I slipped my lips over him softly and sucked, “Mm…” I smiled and bobbed my head up and down his member quickly then slowed and pulled away from him, “What are you doing?”

    I stood and undid my jeans, “You can see what I’m doing.” I replied then turned my back to him.

    I heard him move and then felt him against me, holding my hips as I bent over the chair in front of me slightly, “Is this want you want, love?” he asked in my ear teasingly as a groan escaped my full soft pink lips.

    I nodded and he started to push into me. I clamped my jaw shut as the pain rose inside of me and sighed softly as he moved inside of me, looking for my prostate. A few minutes later he found it, “Fuck…” I groaned slightly louder then I had intended and heard a few people up front make hushing sounds, “Oops.” I giggled and I heard James laugh too then groan in my ear softly as he slipped a hand over my hip and started stroking me.

    We continued this way through half the movie until James groaned, “Oh god, I’m almost…” he gave a shuttering breath and spilt his load into me as I moaned loudly and my load spilt over his hand and all over the back of the chair I was bent over. He pulled out of me slowly and pulled his jeans back up as I did the same. He took my hand in his clean one and I could see a faint smirk on his face, “Want to go home now?” he asked, “Cause I’m not finding this movie interesting.”

    I giggled, “No, I don’t want to go home just yet.” I answered, walking out of the theater with him and we went to the car. I opened the backseat door, “Round two?” I asked him with a light smile.

    “Sounds wonderful to me.” he replied, crawling into the backseat with me. Luckily it was dark and no one could see our car.

Chapter Twenty Eight

~Some months later on tour~<o:p></o:p>

    “Wakey, wakey! Eggs and bacon!” yelled Frank in my ear and I just knew he had to do that because I had a hangover from the pervious night of partying with the rest of the band after our, what was it our thirtieth?, concert in the last few months.

    I swatted at him, “Go away, Frank!” I growled and rolled over.

    “Gee, baby, your baby brother seems to be in a bad mood this gorgeous morning!” Frank yelled to Gerard, wherever he was on the bus.

    I put my arm over my head and gave a pained groan as a headache from hell settled in. I heard laugher nearby, “I can only imagine why that is. Leave him alone, Frankie.” answered Gerard’s voice.

    I felt my bed bounce, “I know why! Mikey consumed way too much alcohol before we performed last night, but why is that?” Frank asked me, still bouncing on my bunk.

    I gave another audible groan, “I’m terrified of the stage and being in front of all those people!” I replied then swung my fist at him.

    My fist came into contact with his stomach and he groaned, “Ouch!” I heard someone move away from my bed and I presumed it was Frankie. I didn’t feel bad for hitting him right now, but I would probably later that day.

    I felt my bed sink and I shifted so I was comfortable again, without opening my eyes, “Baby, you can be the meanest sometimes. What kind of example are you trying to set for your daughter?” asked a voice I had been longing to hear since the beginning of my tour, but hadn’t expected to hear for another five, six months.

    I smiled, “Aren’t you suppose to be in China?” I asked that loving voice so softly.

    “Well yeah, but we changed our schedule so Artemis and I could come see your concert last night.” James replied, brushing his lips across mine.

    I wrapped my arms around him tightly, “Damn how I’ve missed you!” I moaned in his ear, “Where is Artemis anyways?”

    “Out in the lounge with Frankie, Gerard, and Jonny.” he answered then pressed something into my hand and I opened my eyes to look at a couple of white pills, “Take these. They’ll take away the headache and maybe your hangover.”

    “Maybe?” I asked doubtfully.

    “Yeah, sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t, but they always get rid of the headache. Trust me, I know.” he said softly then got up and brought me a bottle of water from the kitchen. “Do you know what I hear everyday on tour now, darling?”

    I downed the pills and half a bottle of water before I replied, “No. What do you hear everyday now?”

    He smiled sweetly down at me and brushed his lips across mine again, “I hear how much you’re missed.” he answered softly, “Can you guess who says that?” I shake my head, but I have a good guess of who, “Brian, Zacky, and Johnny are all complaining about missing you. I haven’t yet though, because I know when this is all over with I’d have you back in my arms.”

    I smiled and sat up, feeling so much better then before. I got up and went out to the lounge where Gerard and Frankie were playing with Artemis. Her laughter made me smile and I picked her up, placing a kiss on her lips, “Hi, darling.” I whispered to her, hugging her tight.

    “Hey we were playing!” my brother pouted and I laughed.

    “Okay, okay resume your game.” I said and placed her back on the ground. James came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and Frankie excused himself from the room. I watched him, thinking, Something’s eating at him and he won’t talk to me. When I get close to getting an answer from him, he clams up again and tells me to forget about it. I looked back at Gerard playing with Artemis then she ran up to me, holding her arms up. I picked her up as Gerard went to tickle her again; “It’s hard to believe that she’ll be three when we’re done touring.” I whispered to James as she looked at ‘Uncle’ Gerard get up off the floor.

    “It’s not that had to believe. What’s hard to believe is that you won’t be there on her birthday.” James said, kissing along my neck. Artemis hit him on the head, and told him to stop, “Oh, I can’t kiss mommy?” he asked her. She shook her head and then he asked, “Can I kiss you?”

    She shook her head again and I giggled softly, “If he can’t kiss me and he can’t kiss you, who’s he going to kiss then?” I asked gently, still giggling.

    She paused and looked at me, “Uncle Zacky.” she answered after a few minutes.

    I pulled myself from James’s embrace and looked into his confused face, “What?” he asked.

    “You’ve been kissing Zacky?” I asked angrily.

    “Oh time to go. Here I’ll take her.” said Gerard and he took Artemis from me.

    The instant the bus door shut, I swung my fist at James, “How could you? After all I’ve done for you and have gone through! How can you go behind my back to one of your friends!” I screamed at him, hitting him in the chest.

    “Mikey it’s not like that!” he yelled at me and grabbed a hold of my hands.

    I seethed with rage, “Oh then tell me what it really is like!” I replied, sarcasm dripping from my words, “Are they what you want in a boyfriend?”

    “No! I love you, Mikey and only you!” he answered, pressing his lips against mine, but I bit down on his lower lip, making him draw back from me.

    “Get out of my sight! Go play with Brian and Zacky!” I screamed, ripping my hands from his grasp.

    I knew I was going to have bruises from that, but I cared less right now, “That’s all Zacky was doing! He started the game! I never wanted a part of it, I swear baby, I didn’t want to play it this time.” he said, tears slipping down his cheeks.

    I brought my right hand across his cheek hard, “Get out! I don’t want to see you!” I yelled again and then went to the bunk area, throwing myself onto my bed as I heard the door bang open and then slammed shut again.

    “Mikey, are you all right?” asked a small voice above me and I heard shifting in the top bunk.

    Frankie and I had switched bunk after a week, “Yeah, Frank. I’m… fine.” I choked out as tears stream down my cheeks. How can I be fine when I just told the love of my life that I didn’t want to see him and I hit him? I questioned myself quietly, “You heard it all didn’t you?”

    I heard a soft thump and my bed sunk, “Everything’s going to be all right, Mikey.” Frankie said, pulling me close to him and I cried into his shirt.

    I looked up into his hazel eyes and my lips brushed his. He looked at me shocked for a moment then kissed me back, his fingers at the hem of my shirt pulling it off and I did the same for him. I pulled him down so he was laying on top of me and my hands slipped into the back of his jeans, sliding them down and cupped his ass softly. He groaned into our kiss and I felt his erection against the inside of my thigh, mine growing harder every second, “Mikey we can’t… you’ve got James.” he whisper in my ear softly.

    “Fuck him. He’s cheated on me.” I replied and slipped my tongue into his mouth, wrestling his for dominance in our mouths. I won our little battle just as he removed my jeans from my body and I lay completely naked underneath him.

    I got some sense back into me as I heard the door to the bus open and Frankie hopped off me and got back into his bunk as I pulled my blankets over me and I closed my eyes, making it seem like I had been sleeping. I felt someone shake me and heard Gerard’s voice above me, “Mikey?”

    “What?” I asked snappishly, opening my eyes.

    Gerard looked at me a little taken back, “What happened?” he asked.

    “Nothing I can’t deal with.” I answered and rolled over so I didn’t face him anymore.

    I heard him walk off, saying, “I hope you didn’t do anything you’ll regret later.”

    I always do something I’ll regret later, like a second ago I was going to fuck Frankie. I thought silently. I heard a soft sob above me, “Frankie? Are you crying?” I asked him.

    “No… I’m not.” he replied, but his voice convinced me otherwise.

    “Why… hold on! It’s me, you love me, but you knew I could never be yours so you let it eat at you.” I whispered so no one else could hear us.

    There was silence for a few minutes, “Yes… that’s what’s been happening. Now leave me alone. I want to sleep.” he answered and I stared up at the bottom of his bed, thinking.

Almost done with this one dearies... At the end let me know if you want the squeal to it...

Chapter Twenty Seven

~Five Months Later~<o:p></o:p>

    “Baby, have you seen my hoodie?” I yelled, looking under the bed.

    “No!” he yelled back from the kitchen, where he was making breakfast for Artemis.

    “Damn it! I’m going to be late if I don’t find it!” I growled, searching our bedroom for it until I found it in the closet, “Yes! I found it!” I screamed in triumph.

    I heard a small laugh, “Mommy’s funny.” came Artemis’s voice from the doorway.

    I turned my head to look at James and Artemis standing, “Yes he’s funny.”

    “Mikey, are you ready to go?” came Gee’s voice from our lounge.

    “Yeah, I’m coming. Hold on!” I answered, going to the door and picked my daughter up, giving her a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead, “I love you, baby girl and I love you.” I said, kissing James too, but on the lips, “I’ll be back soon, hopefully around the same time as you.”

    I gave Artemis to him and grabbed my suitcases, “I think you will be. I love you, babe. Have fun.” James replied as I left our room and went to the lounge.

    We, as in My Chemical Romance, were going on tour for like a year and so was Avenged Sevenfold. We were going to Australia while James, Artemis, and the guys were going to China, “You ready now?” asked Gerard.

    I nodded, “Yeah. Come on, let’s go before we miss our flight. I’ll see you two soon.” I said then left the apartment with Gerard and went down to his car. I put my things in the backseat and looked at Gerard across the car hood, “I’m scared.”

    He smiled, “That’s normal. This is a lot different then anything you’ve done. Well our band mates are waiting.” he responded, getting in and so did I with a nod.

 <o:p></o:p>

    “Mikey!” yelled a voice as I entered the first class area, “Come sit with me!”

    I smiled at Frankie, who was extremely excited about the tour. I walked towards him and the empty seat next to him, “Okay. I’ll sit next to you,” I replied, “but isn’t Bob suppose to sit here?”

    Frankie just stuck his tongue out and I laughed while taking a seat, “Yeah he’s suppose too, but I don’t want him sitting next to me just so he can tell me how awful and disgusting I am.” he complained then looked at me with tear filled hazel eyes, “You won’t do that will you?”

    I shook my head and stroked his hair lightly, “No, Frankie. I won’t do that.” I answered as the captain of the plane announced over the intercom that we were about to take off. I put my seatbelt on and turned to look at Frank, “Have you found a real boyfriend yet?”

    He shook his head and looked out the window while glumly replying, “No, same old, same old. I’m still sleeping with anyone I want too. Where’s Artemis? Is she touring with James?”

    “Yes, she’s with James.” I replied lightly as I tilted my seat back a bit.

    “Are you excited?” he asked.

    I shook my head, “I’m scared more then anything.” I replied softly then closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

 <o:p></o:p>

    “Mikey.” whispered a voice in my ear.

    “Hmm… Tripp?” I asked intently, looking around for him.

    “Behind you, dearest.” said a voice close to me, “It’s been a while, love and how gorgeous you’ve gotten in the last few months.”

    I turned to face him and noted he hadn’t changed at all, “And you are the same old Tripp that I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting. What do you want? My life’s fine without you around to fuck it up.” I commented coldly, not in the mood to deal with him now since he was the one to put a ruffle in my relationship with James.

    “Oh ho, so you blame me for that mishap? I’m not the one that did anything. She’s beautiful, Mikey. She’ll grow up to be just like you, personality wise anyways.” he stated, looking into my anger filled eyes, “In death nothing changes, but people can become their younger, more youthful selves here.”

    “You touch one auburn-colored hair on her head and you’ll pay for messing with my daughter.” I growled at him.

    “Aw this is too precious! You don’t know? She never told you about the handsome guy that visits her in her most pleasant dreams? I guess not. She is only four, but she’ll be eight when a horrible incident occurs between you and your boyfriend.” he said, with a sly grin, “How can you consider what you have a true family? You’re not even married to the guy.”

    “Shut up, Tripp! He has so much more then you did.” I snarled, turning my back on him.

    “I know that, but true grief is on coming to you, dove and you don’t even see it.” he answered, putting his hands on my hips.

    “What are you talking about?” I yelled, but I felt a pulling and I was falling away.

 <o:p></o:p>

    I sat up straight, panting heavily then laid back in my chair again, “Mikey, are you alright?” Frankie’s voice asked me.

    I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, “Yeah, Frankie, I’m fine. Why did you wake me?” I answered. I hated that falling sensation when I was being pulled away from the other world. I stopped a waitress as she was walking by, “Can I get a bottle of water?” she nodded, “Thank you.”

    “Well I was bored and wanted some company, but you were asleep and I thought you would mind being woken, but I guess I was wrong.” he muttered softly ad looked back out the window.

    I took the bottle of water from the flight attendant, “Thank you.” I said again then looked at poor Frankie, who was all ruffled now. He didn’t have the easiest life you know, “I’m sorry, Frankie. You just startled me that’s all.” I said softly, placing my hand on his shoulder and he looked at me with a half smile, “What’s bothering you?”

    He shrugged and looked out the window again, “We’re almost there.” he said, instead of answering my question. He looked at me again, “Promise you won’t laugh if I tell you?”

    “Cross my heart.” I responded, but Bob just had to get into this conversation, “No! I’ll laugh at you!”

    I turned my head to look at him,  “Mr. Bryar, I don’t believe he was talking to you.” I said sharply and he looked away.

    I caught my brother stare, “You are one with a will that is unbroken and aren’t afraid of many things, are you?” he asked me, but I noticed Jonny trying to get his attention.

    “No, very little scares me now after all the things I’ve been though.” I replied and turned back to Frankie, “Now what is wrong?” he muttered something to low for me to hear, “Come again?”

    “I want someone to truly love, not just someone that keeps me company in bed for a night.” he said again, but it was barely above a whisper.

    “Then find that special someone.” I replied, placing my hand over his for a moment.

    He sighed and I could tell how much heart brake was there, “I have, but he’s with someone else that he loves too much to leave. He’d die before he left his significant one.” Frankie responded, all his cheeriness vanished from him.

    “Who’s this guy?” I asked interested.

    He looked away again, “You know what, just forget about it. I know I’ll never have him, so just forget I said anything.” he said suddenly after a few minutes of silence.

    “We’ll be arriving in Sydney in half an hour.” announced the captain over the intercom.

    I looked at my brother intending to talk to him, but he was in a deep conversation with Jonny, so I decided against it, “It’ll be alright, Mikey.” said Frankie’s voice and I looked at him.

    “What?” I asked confused.

    He smiled lightly, “Your fear is apparent on your face.” Frankie explained then was silent for the rest of the flight. When we touched ground I got up with Frankie, Gerard, Jonny, Bob, and Ray and got off the plane, “I get a bottom bunk on the bus!” Frankie yelled as they walked towards a huge tour bus.

    “Well Mikey welcome to your home away from home.” Gerard laughed as we got on the bus, “Hey Dominic, well you know where to take us first.” he said to a light brown haired guy.

    “That I do, Mr. Way. WH may I ask is this?” he asked pointing me out.

    “Oh, this is my baby brother Mikey, Dom. He’s our new bass player.” Gee replied then said to me, “Mikey, this is our driver Dominic Sanders.”

    I waved to him, “Nice to meet you.” I said softly.

    Gee slapped me on the back, “Well go find a bunk before you end up sleeping on the couch.” he said to me and I nodded, walking off to claim the bunk above Frankie’s as mine and start this very long tour.